West Ham academy participant, 15, who dreamed of turning into skilled goalkeeper dies after shedding courageous battle with most cancers

A 15-year-old West Ham academy player who dreamed of becoming a professional goalkeeper has died after a brave battle with cancer. 

Oscar Ray Fairs, who was diagnosed with ependymoma in August 2023 — a rare tumor that grows in the brain or spinal cord — has sadly passed away, the Club announced today. 

The teenager was misdiagnosed for eight months with mental health problems and migraines after suffering with strange panic attack symptoms. 

But an MRI later scan found a 9cm tumour on the left side of his brain, attached to his motor system, with three cysts on the outside.

West Ham’s sporting director Mark Noble shared the tragic news in a statement on the football club’s website.

He said: ‘On behalf of everyone at West Ham United, it is with deep and profound sadness that I confirm the tragic passing of our U15s Academy goalkeeper Oscar Fairs, following his brave battle with cancer.

‘Oscar was adored by everyone at the Academy – not only was he a great goalkeeper, he was a true Hammer and a fantastic young person, who will be deeply missed by everyone who had the pleasure to know him.

‘I have wonderful memories of Oscar playing in my garden – Lenny and his teammates all loved him. 

Oscar Ray Fairs, 15, has died after a brave battle with cancer West Ham United announced today

The Club wrote: ‘It is with deep and profound sadness that West Ham United confirm the tragic passing of our U15s Academy goalkeeper Oscar Fairs, following his brave battle with cancer’

‘He was a friendly, happy, well-mannered and polite young man, who had such a bright future ahead of him, and it is just so unimaginably devastating that he has been taken from his family and friends at this age.

‘As a mark of respect, all scheduled Academy fixtures this weekend have been postponed, including this evening’s PL2 Under-21 match against Stoke City.’ 

Oscar underwent surgery to remove the brain tumour on August 31 last year after losing the ability to walk and talk.

For several months before, he showed strange panic attack symptoms and told his mother Natalie there was ‘something in my head’ that was telling him to do ‘awful things’.

However, despite undergoing blood tests with doctors, he was routinely told that he just had ‘hypothetical anxiety’ and ‘was on the spectrum’. 

Mrs Fairs implored there to be an equal level of education about brain tumour symptoms, similar to how there is with breast and prostate cancer, as not only could it have helped her son, it could also help save another child’s life. 

Natalie Fairs, pictured right, has said there needs to be greater education about the symptoms of brain tumours after her son was misdiagnosed for eight months

The 14-year-old was diagnosed with a 7cm cancerous brain tumour after the right hand side of his body shut down

The Fairs family were previously invited to watch the Hammers by Mark Noble (pictured centre) and Oscar served as a mascot

When asked about the lack of awareness regarding the symptoms of a tumour, the emotional literacy support assistant previously told MailOnline: ‘If you’ve got prostrate cancer or breast cancer or even a blood clot or stroke, everybody knows the steps to check yourself.

‘With a brain tumour, there has been nothing in my 40 years of life, not a poster, not a step-by-step of how to check, about the symptoms of a brain tumour. Why is this not being advertised on the telly like breast cancer symptoms are?’

Despite regular nausea, violent headaches and extreme sensitivity to light, Mrs Fairs said it took eight months for her son to even receive an MRI scan.

‘I remember, we went into the hospital and Oscar was screaming because of the pain in his head, he couldn’t keep his eyes open because the light was so painful and he was in a wheelchair.

‘We went to the GP at our local hospital and the paediatrician said to me “I’ve been in this industry for 10 years, that is a migraine. This is not a life or death situation, just give him this nasal spray, keep him off his phone and put him in a dark room for four days and nurture him.

‘I went straight home and just cried my eyes out. I’ve reported her since. It took for him to lose the function in the right side of his body to finally get an MRI scan which is when we were told he had a tumour.’

Mr Noble added: ‘In due course, the Club will also share information on our plans to pay tribute to Oscar, and we will ensure that his name is never forgotten at West Ham United.

‘The thoughts and sincere condolences of everyone at the Club are with Oscar’s parents, Natalie and Russell, and his brother Harry, and we kindly ask that the family’s privacy is respected at this extremely difficult time.

Rest in peace, brave Oscar.’